de facto:
In fact, in deed, actually. This phrase is used to
characterize an officer, a government, a past action or a state
of affairs which must be accepted for all practical purposes, but
is illegal or illegitimate. Thus,
an office, a position or status existing under a claim or color
of right
such as a de facto corporation. In this
sense it is the contrary of de jure, which means rightful,
legitimate, just, or constitutional. Thus, an officer, king,
or government de facto is one who is in actual possession
of the office or supreme power, but by usurpation, or without lawful
title; while an officer, king, or governor de jure is
one who has just claim and rightful title to the office or power,
but has never had plenary possession of it, or is not in actual
possession. MacLeod vl United States, 229 U.S. 416, 33 S.Ct.
955, 57 L.Ed. 1260. A wife de facto is one whose marriage
is voidable by decree, as distinguished from a wife de jure,
or lawful wife. But the term is also frequently used independently
of any distinction from de jure; thus a blockade
de facto is a blockade which is actually maintained, as distinguished
from a mere paper blockade. Compare De jure.
[Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, p. 416]

Background on the De Facto
Government of the "United States"

1. For the mechanism by which the de jure government has
been transformed into a de facto government, see: